Wednesday, May 13, 2009

(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, Bethlehem, Aida refugee camp, 13 May 2009.A day of chasing of the Pope.

So the Pope came to bethlehem and left. It was quite an exhausing experience I might say, but kind of funny. The best way to convey it is to give you a detailed account of the day...I was taking pictures, not really for commercial reasons, but more to be part of this historical event and the journalists circus. I managed to get a press pass from the good media agency IMEMC through my friend Ghassan. The day before I managed to borrow a 200 zoom from a friend.

Day before the visit of the Pope:

6.30pm with Ghassan we met to see the locations, discussed where we should try to place ourselves and who should try to go where. We went up to the roof of one big building in the nativity church location, the building belongs to a certain Iyad. Ghassan joked with him and managed to get us some room on the roof. From there we can see all the place where the Pope will give his open-air mass. This is the perfect location.We also went to Aida camp. We were shown where the journalists can stand (inside the school)....on a very tiny balcony and the stairs. The best spot should be the corner of the balcony.We finally decide that I will try to go to Rachel's tomb to try to take pictures of the Pope and the Wall (he should change cars there) and Ghassan will go up at 6am to Manger square to go up into the building and be sure to have a place there. The main objective of the day: get the Pope with the Wall behind!

The day of the Pope.

5am waking up and preparing all the gear for the day, including sunscreen, book, something to write, battery charger, bananas, water. I know it is going to be an hell of a ;long day.

6am going to Nissan hall, where all the journalists were asked to come to go to buses in different locations. The buses must leave at 6.30. lots of soldiers in the empty streets. Lovely morning light. I should wake up early more ofen!6.10am. At nissan, ohhhh already so many journalists are there..I should have come earlier. I have to put all my bags on the floor so that the bags are checked. And then we have to go through a metal door in front of which there ais a big queue.6.20Ghassan arrives...tells me it was impossible to go to Manger square without getting into the journalists bus. 6.30finally manage to go through the metal detector. Now confused if we have to register for the buses. Apparently no.6.35.we all have to go to the buses. I demand to one responsible where is the bus to rachels'tomb. Already gone. Ok will try to go to the building instead. I am one of the firsts to enter the bus to manger square. Ghassan decides to go to the Presidential palace6.40.The bus leave us close to Manger square, I speed up with all the journalists. At the gates the police told us that it is not possible to enter and that we have to come with the journalists bus, but ok they believe that we took the bus as we are 100 arriving at the same time.7am I am up on the roof. One of the first to arrive. I spot Iyad, say hello and ask if it is ok that I stay here. He says: “you have the spot”. SThe roof is supposed to be only for big agencies so I keep my head down and cling to my position, (oh come on it is only three hours to wait!). People are arriving in the square. The roof is getting crowed. A phone call from Ghassan: nothing is happening at the Presidential Palace so he is coming over.7.30. Ghassan arrived. Iyad wants to talk to him. We are kicked out of the roof because he wants some money. Business is business.7.40. down to manger square. Ghassan knows some photographers on the podium of journalists and photographers so we can have a room. But as small as I am and without a podium, it is impossible that I will be able to get some shots. Decide to go for the tree next to the podium. I will be a monkey photographer today. 8.30.Going around. Time for a coffee. The place is now crowed.9.10Goinb back up to the roof of the building to take a picture anyway9.15Back next to teh tree. Nir will give me from time to time his 300 lens so it should be quite good. Pilgrims are beginning to enter from the back and mix themselves with the journalists.9.20. The Pope arrives with his famous Pope-mobile. Everybody stands up so i cant have good pictures. He soon disappeared in the peace center. Everybody shouts as he was kind of a rock star,9.30.Change my position to the podium because I manage to get in the front row there. 9.32. The Pope comes back on stage and greets the crowed.9.35 Ave Maria. The orchestra and chorus are quite good.9.36. So bloody hot,10.30 The Pope mades his speech. He starts by expressing solidarity with the people of Gaza, which is good. But then I do not understand a thing. 11.30. I take advantage of the communion during which people are moving to get closer to the stage. Manage to get to around 20 meters. A guy is shouting at the Pope about some politics but I cannot really hear. 11.34. as the Pope leaves the stage I manage to get through and follow him, and try to get a close shot from about 1 meter. Lot of pushing around.11.40. The Pope leave again the Peace center and walks to the Nativity church. I follow him, pushed around by some men in suits and sunglasses but I think I manage to get other pictures from quite close.12.20 Running home to send the pictures. Some people are dancing on Manger square, holding hands, and look like they are on drugs.12.45 sending a rough selection of pictures, my eyes hurt because some sunscreen gets inside. 1.10 running back to the media center to catch the bus to Aida refugee camp. Some lunch is served. I am discussing with some journalist from Switzerland who tells me how better the Palestinians are to handle the journalists. In Jerusalem they did not get lunch. I have to keep my sunglasses on because my eyes are really hurting.2pm. Walking very fast to get the bus to aida, manage to get first in the bus.2.30. After some discussion with the Police about how to get to teh school, we have to walk down. 2.35. Waiting in front of the door of the school. The Palestinian special forces are shouting at us that we should get in line.2.50. One of the first to enter Aida school, again our bags need to be checked. 3pm. Going up to the balcony and I take a very good position,3. 02 The responsible of public relations tells me that the place is saved for the media from Vatican and that I have to move.3.05 I move to the corner of the balcony. There is one of the cameramen from Maan that I know. I ask him if I can squizz, basically I have to kneel down next to him and some barbwire. He says yes.3.20. The balcony is more and more crowed. It is very hot and the music is so loud3.45. I have access to the discourse of the Pope. The journalists have them in advance. He will say that this is tragic that walls are again erected and he will also say he comes here to show solidarity with the Palestinian refugees. Ok, not bad but not bold.4.25. My hair gets stuck in the barbwire4.30The muslim prayer starts, that will be a good timing for the Pope's arrival.4.40Abu Mazen arrives. Nobody cares so much.4.45 Il Babaaaaa (the pope). Miss the shot with the Popemobile.Everybody gets on stage. The series of discourses and performances start. 5.15Why are they shouting? (two girls, reciting a poem)5.16My battery indicator flashes. Ok I just cut the pictures of Abu Mazen and waits for Pope's discourse. 6pm The Pope speaks. Why he is only looking at his notes. 6.10now he receives some gifts, and I cannot feel my legs any more.6.30 time to go home. I am so exhausted.7pm finally at home. But still needs to send the pictures..